Flu. And Mittens.

First, happy birthday, Liz! Can you believe the first time I said that to you it was twenty-two years ago? gulp. moving on.

So a few years ago I was in line at the bank. I had a cold and was commenting to a friend of mine how scratchy my throat was, and how I was sick of the drippies, and I said something about "I get this same flu every year." and the woman in line in front of me turned around and literally hissed at me "if you're standing in this line it is NOT the flu." I was, of course, taken aback. Well, this past week, the Mole and I had the flu. And now I am one of those hissers. a cold is NOT the flu. Man, several times this week i wished I were just in a coma somewhere. No exaggeration. Bone pain like labor. And I've done that twice, without drugs, so I should know. just bad, bad, bad.

And worst of all, I got completely behind on my holiday knitting. Just as the Squid decided that she wanted me to make mittens for ALL of her classmates. Sigh. Luckily there are only 9 of them, including the Squid. And then two non-school friends. But those can wait. the classmates' mittens need to be finished by Friday. So as soon as I was able (yesterday), I got to knitting. (oh and by the way, as soon as I have a second I will happily share my mitten formula with all of you who asked.)

For Angus. Matching a hat I made for him last year.

For Declan, the Squid's current bestest friend. Diego to her Dora. The kid who broke my heart by telling me his favorite color was pink and that he was sad that only girl clothes came with rainbows and unicorns. He wears pink flip flops in the summer, but knows what makes boy clothes "boy clothes" and just wants rainbows, damnit. I wanted to make him something rainbowy-er and pinker, but my girl chose the yarn, professing it the "best one for her best friend." So there you have it.

For Macayla, who has not for a moment wavered in her love of purple since the moment she could talk.

These will be for Malik, when finished. Some of these is form yarn in balls, not cakes, so I have to do one at a time. Which annoys me, but there you have it. Look at that mitten. Now picture that mitten as vague geometric shapes, as if sketched in pastels on bumpy paper. Picture that, say, aqua triangle imposed over a salmon rectangle with a zorro-like scribble of black, on an oversized white shirt with shoulder pads, bloused out over a wide, asymetrical black studded belt. Over an acid wash denim miniskirt. Over slouchy suede ankle boots. I think I wore that to Liz's birthday 22 years ago.